. >> pam: president obama is telling congress to act quickly to raise the country's 16-trillion dollar debt limit. warning that social security checks would be delayed if the nation's borrowing authority isn't extended. >> we are not a dead beat the nation. so there is a very simple solution to this. congress authorizes this to pay our bills. if the house and the senate wanted to give me the authority so they do not have to take these difficult votes. if they want to put the responsibility on me to raise the debt ceiling i'm happy to do it. >> pam: the president is also warning republicans to not insist on spending cuts in exchange for rasing the debt limit. the government could run out of money and shut down in march if a deal is not reached. >> former president george h-w bush is out of the hospital for the first time in nearly two months. he was discharged today. after spending several weeks being treated for bronchitis, a bacterial infection and a persistent cough his spokesman said. bush is able to go home without any special medication, but he will do physical therapy, doctors sa